Activists from Hong Kong’s pro-democracy “Umbrella movement” will be vying for seats in key local elections today and tomorrow — the first real test of public sentiment after mass protests gripped the territory last year.
Dubbed “Umbrella soldiers” by local media, the campaigners have set their sights on the district-level elections, the first polls since pro-democracy rallies brought parts of the territory to a standstill for more than two months.
The protests failed to win concessions from Beijing or the Hong Kong government on political reform and activists now hope launching into local politics will prove a more successful strategy.
“The elections are considered to be a bellwether this year,” said Willy Lam (林和立), professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s centre for China studies.
“Beijing, Hong Kong and the international community are watching very closely to see whether the mass enthusiasm for democracy galvanized during the Umbrella movement will bear fruit in the ballot box,” Lam said.
Hong Kong is semi-autonomous after being handed back to China by Britain in 1997, but there are concerns that its freedoms are being eroded by Beijing.
Last year’s rallies were sparked after Beijing insisted that candidates for Hong Kong’s next leadership election must be vetted by a loyalist committee.
Yau Wai-ching (游蕙禎), 24, is a former pro-democracy protester and one of nine members of new group Youngspiration standing in the district vote.
“I can’t accept that now the movement has ended there is nothing we can do,” said Yau, who quit her job as an administrator to run for office. “We are Hong Kongers. We are not politicians. We are coming out to do something we think is right.”
However, with scant experience and resources, and with the democracy movement splintering, there are questions over how far they will get.
There are also fears the new generation will split the democratic vote as they are competing with members of more established pro-democracy parties in some constituencies, but young campaigners say it is an important step as they try to reignite the movement.
“Even if they lose [in the district elections], I hope the ‘Umbrella soldiers’ can continue their effort and passion,” said Joshua Wong (黃之鋒), the teenage face of the democracy movement.
At 19, Wong is too young to stand, as candidates must be 21 — he has launched a judicial review to bring the age restriction down to 18.
“It is possible to motivate youth and teens after the movement. It’s not an easy thing to do, but I still have expectations,” Wong said.
Voters are to choose 431 representatives of the 18 district councils — before the elections pro-establishment parties held a majority.
With the territory deeply divided between those who favor more democratization and those who support Beijing, pro-government candidates are casting themselves as a force for stability, in contrast with democracy campaigners, who they blame for disrupting life in the territory.
“We would like to get a comprehensive victory,” said “Bill” Tang Ka-piu (鄧家彪), a candidate for the Federation of Trade Unions, a major pro-Beijing group. “This will be a message that mainstream society wants stability. We need to demonstrate... who is really doing good for Hong Kong.”
Although pro-democracy lawmakers succeeded in voting down the Beijing-backed reform bill that sparked last year’s protests, their failure to win concessions has led to a sense of hopelessness for some.
“Even if we elected democrats they wouldn’t have enough power [to accomplish their goals] as they are suppressed ... the city is now part of China,” said Lun Hon-hung, 68, who runs a name card business and says he will not vote.
However, others remain more optimistic.
“We need to make our voices heard,” said 28-year-old Hong Konger Sam Wong, who added that she would vote tomorrow. “Hopefully, through voting we can still fight for democracy.”
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